Promising Applications of Red Cell Distribution Width in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Diseases With or Without Disordered Iron Metabolism

Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a valuable indicator for diagnosing and monitoring various diseases, both anemic and non-anemic, due to its sensitivity to factors like disordered iron metabolism, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Increased RDW is associated with conditions such as iron deficiency anemia and hemolytic anemia, but also appears in non-anemic diseases. The review highlights the importance of using RDW in conjunction with other indicators like hepcidin and ferritin levels to enhance diagnostic and prognostic accuracy. RDW is cost-effective and easily accessible, suggesting it should be more frequently utilized in clinical settings.